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Canadian government expands program to fund up to 700 new positions for youth in agriculture

The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Marie-Claude Bibeau, announced an investment of up to $9.2 million to enhance the Youth Employment and Skills Program (YESP) and fund up to 700 new positions for youth in the agriculture industry.

This additional funding will help the agriculture industry attract Canadian youth, ages 15 to 30, to their organizations to assist with labour shortages brought on by the pandemic. This program aims to provide youth, and particularly youth facing barriers to employment, with job experience in agriculture that will provide career-related work experience.

The YESP will provide agriculture employers up to 50 per cent of the cost of hiring a Canadian youth up to $14,000. Indigenous applicants and those applicants hiring a youth facing barriers are eligible for funding of up to 80 per cent of their costs.

“Young Canadians are talented, ambitious, and hard-working, yet getting a strong start in the workforce can be challenging for many, especially during this uncertain time. This funding will go to support up to 700 jobs in agriculture and provide young people an opportunity to discover the limitless potential of the agriculture and agri-food industries,” said Bardish Chagger, minister of diversity and inclusion and youth, in a released statement.

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) also tweeted about the news saying, “Anything that helps mitigate the labour shortages confronting [Canadian agriculture] is greatly appreciated.”

CFA greatly appreciates that the Youth Employment and Skills program will now fund 700 new positions for youth in #cdnag. Anything that helps mitigate the labour shortages confronting #cdnag is greatly appreciated @AAFC_Canada

— CFA (@CFAFCA) May 26, 2020

Eligible applicants include producers, agri-businesses, industry associations, provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous organizations and research facilities. Employers may apply for this funding retroactive to April 1, 2020, with projects to be completed by March 31, 2021.

Application forms are available through the Youth Employment and Skills Program, or to get more information, please contact aafc.yesp-pecj.aac@canada.ca, or call: 1-866-452-5558.